Tomato paring and coring machine



Aug. 25, 1953 a. c. COONS 2,649,873

' TOMATO PARING AND CORING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1947 l 14 Sheets-Sheet s ZITIE EI 2.5

E-l INVENTOR aun'rou c..coons ATTORNEYS.

B. c. cooNs I TOMATO PARING AND CORING MACHINE Aug. 25, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 29,1947

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Q MHLHI Q 9.

' mven'ron BURTON 0- 000'45 ATTORNEYS 25, 1953 B. c. cdoNs 2,649,878

7 TOMATO PARIING AND CORING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1947 14 Sheefcs-She et 6 IV '22s 25 I so mvsmon'" 13'? Bu'R'rouc; coous ATTORNEYS Aug. 25,1953 B. c.- cooNs 2,649,378

- TOMATO PARING AND CORING MACHINE Filed on. 29, 1947 14 SheediS-Sheet 7 FIE EI 4 sun-mu}; bous Aug. 25, 1953v B.C. cooNs 2,649,378

' TOMATO PARING'AND CORING MACHINE Filed on; 29, 1947 I 14 Sheets-Sheet s Y aua'ron c. coous I F'I IE| 15} W I ATTCENEYS B. C. COONS TOMATO PARING AND CORING MACHINE Aug'. 25, 1953 14 Sheets$heet 9 Filed 001,. 29, 1947 INVENTOR BURTON 0- OOONS ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1953 B. c. cooNs 2,649,878

TOMATO PARING AND CORING MACHINE 7 Filed Oct. 29, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet 1O Y HI d) 3 INVENTOR aumou c. coou's wg w ATTORNEYS 25, 1953 B. c. COONS 2,649,878

TOMATO PARING AND CORING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet ll INYENTOR BURTON 6. 60088 ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1953 B. c. cooNs 2,649,878

TOMATO PARING AND CORINC: MACHINE Filed Oct. 29, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet l2 IV I la PM s4 2 INVENTOR BURTON C- COONS BY Q ATTORNEYS &

Aug. 25, .1953 B. c. COONS I 2,649,873

' TOMATO PARING AND CORING MACHINE Filed Oct. 29. 1947 v 14 Sheejcs-Sheet 1a mvm'on BURTON C. GO'ONS ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1953 B. c. cooNs 2, 8

TOMATO PARING AND CORING' MACHINE Filed on.- 29, 1947 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTOR BURTON C. GOONS ATTOR NEY Patented Aug. 25, 1953 TQMAIEQ MI'NGiMD CORING MACHINE Burton G'- Goons, Jose Galifi, assignor to Food Machineryand Chemieart Summation; ax

corporation of Delazware Application 29, 1947, Serial No. 782,784

(Cl. M G-$8 12* @l'aiins. I:

the. nresent. inventio elates. to. a. machine. or. n epa ine. tomatoes. on the. like for. eanmne Q1: th r hlrooe sina.

One.obieqtof heinventionisto EM l me proved: maehine. for. p eling, and. orina ome: toes, or s milai; truit a secede andi enteient; manner- Anot r. bi ot is. to. provid a. oma o neeli e. endocri e, machine. whinh will; mic ently handle. the fruit; irrespeetive f variations, n the size andis n th reof:

no he obi n sfio provide amaeliine. to; peel;- ing: and' coring com a a ly ender tomataes. without damaging the fmit.

Another object is to provide an automatieally opera-ted machine for transferring fruit thorn. a. receiving station to a peeling and coring station, centering the ftliltiit' relative to said peelingand coring station, holding the fruit incident to a, peeiing and coring: operation and for subseqnentlydischarging the fruit ina gentle manner;

Anotherobject is to provide an improved apparatus for feeding fruit to and; centering thefruit':re1ative-to-afruitholder;

Another-obiect'is'to provide anovel fruit hold; ingspindle-with apparatus-adapted to be initially introduced into the fruit. and to subsequently utiiize thefruit to effect-operation ofa clutch for turning the spindlela-ml fruit.

Another object is to provide apparatus for gently. wounding: the surface: Off thefmuit. to compi fit yi remove the: skin; I'ayen therefoom.

Amman-object;istoiprovideapparatus for pro gressiyaly advancing; a high; speed abrading tool; cimgmienentialim along one sid'e of a whole fruit. Whike Rotating the latten to. subject the entire peninheriv, of: the .fruitlto-the aetion of= the-ahead n zmeli.

Aimthor obj eat; is.- to= provide apparatus' assoei ated with; a. 1100115 for; impalingthe: core portionof? a; frcuit: tonotatethe sameand to cutthe core from. the Inuit. to therebw release the fruit for discharge from the impaling' tool;

O'therobjeots and advantages: ofthe present invention willbecome apparent-- in; the; following description and drawings-inwhiche- Fig. 1v is a front elevation-of a tomatcrv preparation maohineoonstructied in accordance with the presentinvention;

Fig; 2is-a sideel'evation; temachin 1 0k;- ingiinthe direction ofline 22-of:Fig r.

Fig. 3 is a rear'eleyationof the machine, oer,- tain pa ts. being omitted' or eurposes oficlaritxig. 4 is a; horizontal section ak n. substantiaiiy along; line 4-4 of Fig, 1, certain parts. be:-

ing, removed; and others broken away for purposes-ofclarity.

Fig,,5 is an enlarged plan view of a portionof the machine taken, along-line 5-5-of- Fig; 2.

Fig; 6' is anvenl'arged view of a; portion of the structure shownin Fig. 5', certain partsbeing l t- -Il of Fig. 8 certain partsbeing broken away and other-parts being omittedi Fig. 1a? isa sideelevation. partly in section; of: the structureshownin-Eig; 11a

Fig; 13; is an enlarged perspective viewof" a portion of the meohanismfor raising and loweringthe fnuitholding sorew:

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of a. portion on the driving mechanism taken alongiline M wl 4 Of Fig 4i.

15 is a verticaii section taken along; line-- l;5j--4i5iofiFi'g..14.

Figz. 116: is--. an ei'evationali View: taken. along line lit-lit. in Fig 4; showing the cam and associated parts: for operating the feedmechanism.

Eig; 1fl"i's=an elevational view takenalong linel-T-..--I-'I- imEig. 4, showing the cam fonoperatingthefruit-holding screw;

Fig 18' is an elevated View taken along line l8 li8 in Fig: 4 showingthe cam fonlowering' andraising-the-peelingmechanism:

Fig: 1'9 is an enlarged; pilan" of a. portion of Fig-.- 4* illustrating the cam and mechanism foroperating'the fruitteentering-jaws;

-, Fig: 20 is, an elevationalview taken along line NI -20* in Fig. 4' showing the, cam for operating, thencoreknqoke-outmechanism.

e a Dnal iew. takene alone. line 1 -21 in. F 31 showin the. cam, 01. operating.

m n fim as qciatediwithtn fruit.ho1d

5o Senna:

n n liewi.

2? an exploded perspective, view qf the peeler head},

F 23.1szanlanview of the. peeler. headas.

Fig. 24 is a longitudinal sectional view of the peeler head taken along line 24-24 in Fig. 25.

Fig. 25 is a transverse section taken along the line 25-25 of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a transverse section taken along the line 2525 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 27 is an enlarged section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 26, illustrating the skin-removing portion of the peeler head.

Fig. 28 is a view of a modification of the skin removing portion of the peeler head shown in Fig. 27.

Figs. 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 are enlarged perspective detail views of a portion of the operative parts of the tomato preparation machine in difthereof.

Figs. 34, 35, and 36 are enlarged vertical sectional views of a portion of one of the fruit supporting spindles illustrating different positionsof the fruit holding screw and its associated mechanism.

Figures 37 to 49 illustrate diagrammatically the successive operational positions of the various implements comprised in each unit of, the machine of the invention, relative to a tomato processed therein. t

In general, the tomato preparation machine of the present invention (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and '7) comprises a feed mechanism A, a fruit holder B, a centering mechanism C, a peeling device D, a coring tool E, a discharge mechanism F, and a drive mechanism G. During the operation of the machine, each tomato deposited stem end down on the feed mechanism A is transferred thereby to.

the fruit holder B where it is properly positioned by the centering mechanism C; with its stem end in alignment with the fruit holder for reception of an impaling means embodied in the same. The tomato is then rotated by the fruit holder while the peeling device D progresses over the periphery of the fruit to remove the skin therefrom after which the coring tool E enters the rotating fruit severing the core thereform to thereby release the cored fruit for removal from the impaling means of the fruit holder by the discharge mechanism F.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1, 2, and 3 thereof, it will be noted that the machine comprises a frame H including a rectangular base H, which may, if desired, be supported a suitable distance above the floor by legs [2 provided at the corners of. Arranged adjacent each end of the the base. base are brackets 14, I5, whichare suitably secured to the base. wardly from the bracket [4, and a similar. standard I1 projects upwardly from the bracket [5.

Fixed to the rear portion of the base ll (Fig. 4). are brackets 18 and I9, from which upright stand ards 20 and 2| project. The upper portions of the standards I6 and 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) are connected by a cross bar 22 and a similarcross bar fixed to the cross bars 22, 23, is a tie rod 25 the purpose of which will be later described.

The drive mechanism G (Figs. 1 to' 4)v comprises a main' shaft 26 which is journalled in suitable bearings of journal brackets 21 mounted in A standard lfiprojects up-.

Supported by the v of the machine, described.

- :mountedon-the standard [7.

6| of each bracket 62 are arranged to slidably 4 spaced relation on the base I I. Also mounted oil the base is an electric motor 28 having a gear head 29 from which a shaft 3!] extends which carries a pinion 3| (Figs. 2 and 4). The pinion 3| meshes with a gear 32 on a countershaft 33 (Fig. 4) journalled in suitable bearings in journal brackets 34 mounted on the base H. The shaft 33 has a pinion 35 rigidly mounted thereon, said pinion being in meshing relationship with a gear 36 fixed to the main shaft 26. In this way, the main shaft 26 is driven through suitable reduction" gearing by the electric motor 28. Shaft 25 serves, generally, with other means associated therewith, to impart movement to and and-to control the movement of certain parts as will be hereinafter more fully Rotatably mounted in bearings 40 and 4| (Figs. 1 to 4) of brackets 42 and 63, respectively, which are secured to the frame is a shaft 44 which carries'a sprocket wheel 45 (Fig. 4) which is driven by'an endless chain 46' trained around the same and a sprocket Wheel 41 on the main drive shaft 26. The sh'aft 44 extends outwardly a suitable distance beyond an end of the machine (Fig. 1) and has fixed thereto a sprocket wheel 49 (Figs. 1 and2) which is connected by an endless chain 53 with a sprocket wheel 55 fixed to one end of a coring cam shaft 52. mounted in abearing of bracket 53 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) fixed to standard [6. The construction and arrangement of the drive mechanism is such that when the main drive shaft 26 is operated by the electric motor 28, shafts 44 and 52 will also be operated by the driving connections above described.

In the present machine (Figs. 1 to 4) several units designated I, II, III, and IV, each consisting of the mechanisms A, B, C', D, E, and F hereinbefore..mentioned, have been illustrated it beingunderstood, .however, that any number of such units ,may' be employed as desired for the purpose of peeling and coring a greater or lesser quantity of fruit per cycle of operation. Since Feed mechanism The feed mechanism A, by which tomatoes are deliveredtothe fruit holders B, is best shown in Figs. 1', 2, 5, 6, and '7. Each feed mechanism comprises a plate 55 (Figs. 5 and 6) having one end portion fixedly mounted on a rod 56 to project laterally therefrom in a substantially horizontal position. The end portion of the plate 55 outermost with respect to the rod 56, has an elongated notch. 51 formed therein lengthwise of the plate for clearing the tomato impaling means of the fruit holder when the plate is positioned thereover duringoperation of the machine, see Fig. 6. The plate 55 is provided with a pair of upright pegs 55 and is shaped to provide a support for ,a tomato placed thereon, either by an attendant or automatically, with the stem end of the tomato resting upon the plate.

The rod 55 is disposed lengthwise of the machine in a substantially horizontal position, and

;.at each end, the rod is connected by a coupling 58 to a rod 59 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) slidably mounted in spaced bearings fill, 61 of a bracket 62. One of. the brackets 62 is fixedly mounted on the standard l6 and the other bracket is fixedly The shaft 52 is rotatably.

The bearings 60,-

accuse .As shown in Figs. :2 and 4, a bracket -63 is socured to the standard 1'6 and a bracket 64 securedto the standard il I, each bracket-being provided with a bearing 65hr 6 6, respectively, for rotatably supportin a rockshatt B! which exe tends substantially the entirev length of the machine. Ffured to the end portion of the rockshaft 6.1 adjacent bracket 83 and projecting upwardly therefrom, is an arm 68 (Fig. 2) having its upper extremity formed with an elongated eye T69 through whichv the rod 58 passes. A similar arm 10 (Fig. 8.) havingaan elongated eye "H to receive the rod 56., is fixed to the end portion of shaft 61 adjacent bracket 64.

Rigidly mounted on the rockshait' 6 1 and depending therefrom is an arm 12 (Figs. 2 and 16 Pivotally connected at T3 to the lower end of the arm 12 is the outer end of a link M which is slottedat 15 to receive the shaft 26. The inner end of link M has a follower roller 16 engaged with the track of a cam H on shaft 28. The cam 1 operates, as described later, in timed relation to other operating parts, to effect periodic reciprocati'ons of the feed mechanisms A to deliver tomatoes to the respective iruithol'ders B, a dwell being provided when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5.

The rockshaft 61 is supported intermediat the from the loading position shown in Fig. '5 to the position shown in Fig. 6. Another purposeor the spring 19 is to prevent-any lag in the operationoi the feeder actuating mechanism so that the latter is always in proper timed relation with the other mechanisms of the machine.

Fruit holders Each fruit holder B (Figs. "7 and '8) comprises a spindle M arranged in a hollow conical pedestal 81 having a flanged base secured by bolts 82 to the table 24 (Fig. '7). Mounted in the base portion of the pedestal 81 (Fig. '8) and extending downwardly through an opening in the table '24, is a bushing 83. Another bushing 84 is mount-- ed in the upper portion of the pedestal in vertical alignment with the bushing 83. The bushings 83 and 84 provide means for guiding a rotatable tomato carrier, i, e., the spindle all, comprising a lower tubular section 8 which is mounted in the bushing 83 and an upper tubular section 86 which is mounted in the bushing 84. As will 'be hereinafter more fully described, both tubes 85 and 86 are adapted to be rotated periodically during the operation of the apparatus and in addition to being rotated, the upper tube 86 is adapted to be moved 'recti-li-nearly within the pedesta'ldl with respect to the lower tube 85.

It will be noted that when the plate 550i the 6. feed mechanism is disposed over the spindle '88, asshown in Fig. 8, the upper end of the lower tube -is spaced a slight distance below the lower end of the upper tube 86. Suitable means hereinafter to be described are provided for interconnecting the two tubes 85 and 8b to provide a driving connection therebetween.

Mounted on the intermediate portion oi the lower tube 85 :and resting on the upper surface of the bushing 83 is a collar 81 by which said tube is supported in. the pedestal 8| so that the lower end of the tube 85 extends downwardly a suitable distance below the lower end of the bushing 83.

The upper tube 85 extends a suitable distance above the top of the bushing 84 and is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 88 which overlies the top of the bushing 84. The flange 88 limits downward movement of the tube 85 in the pedestal when said flange engages the top of the bushing 84 as shown in Fig. 8. Proje'cting upwardly from the flange 88 are a'plurality of radially disposed tomato impal-ing 89 upon which each tomato delivered to the spindle is adapted to be impaled. The fins 89 are equally spaced on the flange 88 in annular arrangement around the central opening of the tube 88 (Figs. 8 and 10). I

A collar 9| (Fig. 8) mounted on the upper portion of the lower tube 85, is held in position thereon by means of a plurality of screws 92 which extend outwardly a suitable distance from the exterior of the collar. The collar projects upwardly above the top of the tube 85 and telescopically receives the lower portion of the upper tube 86.

Fixed on the upper tube 86 at a point directly above the upper portion of collar 9! is another collar having :a sleeve 93 which extends downwardly over the collar 91 (Figs 8 and 11). Elon-' gated slots 94 (Fig. 8) are formed vertically in the sleeve '93., there being a slot for each screw 92. The construction is such that a slidable driving connection is provided between the tubes 85 and 8'6 by which rectilinear movement of the tube 86 with respect to the tube 85 is permitted while, at the same time, the engagement of the screws 92 with the side edges of the slots 94 effects rotation of tube 86 by tube 85, when the latter is rotated in the manner to be hereinafter described, irrespective of the relative vertical position of the upper tube 85 with respect to the lower tube 85.

For moving the upper tube 88 rectilinearly with respect to the lower tube 85, a lifter lever '95 (Fig. 8) is provided. One end of the lever 95 is fixed to'a rockshaft '96 (Figs. 3, 8, and 21) jour-, nalled in bearings of brackets 91 fixed to the table '24 (Figs. 3 and 8). The other end of lever 95 is forked, as indicated at "98, Figs. 8, l1, and 12, so as'to straddle the sleeve 93. Each arm of the forked portion or yoke 98 of lever 95, carrie-s a stud 99 which extends into an annular groove or slot 100 (Fig. 11) formed on the lower portion of the sleeve 93. The studs '99 are diametrically disposed so that when the lever 95 is actuated the walls of the slot I00 will be engaged by the studs at opposite points and thereby impart movement to the upper tube at cor responding to the movement of the lever 95.

Fixed on the rocksha-ft 86 (Figs. 3 and 21) is;

one end of an arm 181 which extends from said shaft at an angle with respect to the angular disposition of the several lifter levers '95. Pivo tal ly connected at 1 82 to the outer end of the arm IOI is the lower end of a link I03 provided with a slotted portion I04 engaging over the coring cam shaft 52 of the drive mechanism. The upper end of link I03 has a follower roller I05 engaged with the track of a cam I06 on cam shaft 52. During a cycle of operation of the machine, cam I06 is adapted to make one revolution, and as shown in Fig. 21, the track of cam I06 is formed with a section III! which, when the roller I05 is engaged therewith, causes the link I03 to operate the arm IN to rock the shaft 96. When the shaft 96 is rocked in the manner just stated, the lifter lever 95 and the tube 86 are lowered to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 34. The construction of the track of cam I06 is such that the tube 86 is maintained in an upwardly extended or lifted position with respect to the tube 85 during most of the cycle of operation of the machine (Figs. 29 to 33 and 35, 36). However, when a tomato is being delivered to and positioned on the fruit holder above the spindle 80, the tube 86 is retracted or lowered, as shown best in Figs. 8 and 34. The engagement of the follower roller I05 with the track of cam I06 is facilitated by a hood I08 on the cam having a contour substantially corresponding to the contour of the portion of the cam track indicated at I'I inFig. 21.

The collar 81, as hereinbefore stated, holds the tube 85 in a fixed vertical relation with respect to the bearing 83 within which it rotates (Figs. 7, 8 and 34 to 36). Mounted on the lower end of the tube 85 is a toothed clutch collar IIO for holding the tube 85 against elevation for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent.

Slidably mounted within the aligned tubes 85 and 86 (Fig. 8) is a screw shaft III having a length greater than the combined length of the tubes 85 and 86. Fixed to the reduced upper end of the screw shaft III is an irnpaling screw I I2 in the form of a single spiral tine. The upper extremity of the tine is preferably pointed so that it will readily pierce a tomato. The diameter of the screw is substantially the same from end to end and less than the diameter of the interior of the tube 86 so that the screw is freely movable within tube 8 6. The construction is such that the screw shaft III functions as a shaft for the screw II2, the screw being adapted to cooperate with the fins 89 of the tube 86 to retain a tomato on the spindle during the peeling and coring operations.

The screw shaft III extends downwardly through the tubes 85 and 86 and terminates a suitable distance below the lower end of the tube 85 (Figs. 8, 34, 35, and 36). Mounted on the lower portion of the screw shaft III is a pair of collars H3 and H4 which are spaced apart vertically to receive between them a block II5 within which the screw shaft III is rotatably received, as shown in Figs. 8, 13, and 34 to 36. For moving the screw shaft I I I rectilinearly within the guide provided by tubes 85 and 86, a lever H6 is provided. One end of the lever I I6 is fixed to a rockshaft II'I, rotatably mounted in bearings I I8, II9 of brackets 63, 64, respectively. The shaft II! is also supported intermediate its ends by a bearing I20 in the bracket 42 hereinbefore mentioned (see Figs. 4 and 8). The other end of lever H6 is forked, as indicated at I 22 (Fig. 13), so as to straddle the block H5. The arms of the forked portion I22 of lever II6 are formed with slots I23 in which are disposed diametrically arranged studs I24 which project outwardly from the block II5 to provide a sliding pivotal connection between the block II5 and'the lever II6 associated with each spindle 80. The collars I I3 and I I4 are so spaced that the block I I 5 has a limited amount of movement rectilinearly on the screw shaft III between the collars H3 and H4.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 17, fixedly secured to the rockshaft I I1 is one end of an arm I26. The other end of arm I26 has .a follower roller I2! engaged with the track of a cam I28 on the shaft 44 hereinbefore explained in connection with the drive mechanism. During a cycle of operation of the machine, cam I28 is adapted to make one revolution in which the shaft I I1 is rocked to impart an upward and a downward movement to the several screw actuating levers I I6 so that the tomato engaging tines or screws II2 are moved upwardly from the position shown in Figs. 8 and 34, are maintained elevated (Fig. 35) for a predetermined period of the cycle of operation of the machine, and are then lowered. Certain other characteristics of the raising and lowering movements imparted to the screw shafts III will be hereinafter described in connection with the explanation of the complete cycle of operation of the machine.

Above the collar II3 (Figs. 8, 34, 35, and 36) the screw shaft I I I has a gear clutch element I23 fixed thereto. The gear clutch element I29 has clutch teeth I30 on its upper portion arranged to engage the teeth of the clutch collar IIO on the lower end of the tube 85 when the screw shaft III is lifted by advancement of the screw II2 into the fruit in a manner as will hereinafter be described.

In the machine illustrated, disposed beneath the table 24 and adjacent the vertical center lines of each of the four pedestals 8| of the units designated I, II, III, and IV in Figs. 1 and 3, are similarly formed gears I3I, I32, I33, and I34. Gear I3I is keyed to a vertically disposed drive shaft I35 (Fig. 14) rotatably mounted in the bearings of a bracket I36 supported from the standard II, also shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The teeth of gear I3I are in meshing relationship at all times with the gear teeth of the gear clutch element I29 of the screw shaft III in the spindle of pedestal of unit I. The teeth of gear I32 are in meshing relationship at all times with the teeth of the gear clutch elements I29 of the screw shafts III in the spindles of pedestals of the units I and II (Fig. 4). Likewise, the teeth of gear I33 are in meshing relationship at all times with the teeth of the gear clutch elements I29 of the screw shafts I I I in the spindles of pedestals of the units II and III, and the teeth of gear I34 are in meshing relationship at all times with the teeth of the gear clutch elements I29 of the screw shafts III in the spindles of pedestals of the units III and IV. Each gear I32, I33, and I34 is mounted on a separate vertically disposed stud or axle I3'I for free rotation. Gear I3I (Fig. 4) is driven from the main drive shaft 26 through gearing including bevel gears I39 and I40 arranged to rotate vertical shaft I35 in the direction of the arrow I4I '(Fig. 4) so that all screw shafts III will rotate in the direction of the arrows I42 (Fig. 4) through the intermeshing relationship of the several gears in the manner above described.

During a portion of each cycle of operation of the machine it is necessary to reverse the direc- 9,. vided for periodically reversing the direction'of rotation of the drive shaft I 35. f

Referring now to Figs. 4, 14, and .15,-wherein is shown the reversing mechanism of the present invention, it will be noted that bevel gear I39 has its hub fixedly connected to 'a'bushing I44, by a set screw I45, or any other suitable means. One end face of bushing 144 is formed withiclutch teeth I46, adapted to mesh with the teeth I41 on an end face of a clutch sleeve I 48 slidablymounted on the main drive shaft 26 and keyed thereto, as indicated at I49 (Fig, 15) for rota-tionfat all times therewith. The other end face of clutch sleeve I48 is formed wit-hteeth I59 arranged to engage the teeth II on an end face of a bushing I52 mounted on the main driveshaft 26 in ,a manner similar to the manner in which bushing I44 is mounted on said shaft. -A bevel gear I53 has its hub mounted on the bushing I52 and fixedly connected thereto by a set screw I 54, orother suitable fastening means. The teeth, of ,bevel gear, I53 are in meshing relationship with the teeth of a bevel gear I55 fixedly secured' to the. lower end of the drive shaft I35. a

Fixed to the main drive shaft 25 (Figs.'14jand 15) is a gear shifting cam I55, having a cam track I51 engaged by the follower roller I58 of a gear shifting rod I59slidably mounted in .bearings I59, I61 formed on two of the brackets 21 hereinbefore referred to (Figs. 4 and 15).]. The

roller I58 is maintained in engagement .with

the cam track I51 by a coil spring vIIiZcoiled around the rod I59 and bearing at one end ainst a shoulder I63 formed-on said rod, and bearing at'the other end against an end face of, the bearing of bracket [61. A pair of swingable gear shifting levers I 64, pivotally mounted at I65 on a bracket, I66 secured to the base II ,have their "forked ends pivotally'conn'ected. to the rod I59, as indi'catedat I61, and their other ends provided witha roller IGBIdisposed in a sheave I'68a secured to a clutchsleeve structure. I48.-

Normally, the cam I56 maintains the, parts in the position in. which the 'teeth' I41 of the clutch sleeve I49 are engaged with the teeth I46 so that bevel gear I39 is connected to the shaft 26 and, gearsIfiI, I32, I33, an(i I34are. thereby rotated in the direction of the arrow MII (Fig. 4) in the manner heretofore described. Each of thescrew shafts" III is, in this manner, simultaneously rotated in the direction of the arrow I 42 (Fig. 4). When. the clutch member I43 connects bevel. gear I39 with shaft 26 .bevel gear I53 is -an idler geanand vice versa when the. clutch member I48, is. shifted by cam 156 from the position shown in Fig. 15, to. the left, bevel I gear I99, becomes an'idlergear and bevel gear I53. is. the driving gear, with the result that gears I.3.I, I32, L33, and I34 are rotated inthe reverse direction. to. .the direction of the arrow I4I, Fig 14. When the clutch member I48: is shifted from one position to the other position, above;

described, thereis'a dwell of the gears. I31, I32,

I 3.3, and I34 and also of the screw shafts HI,

and, as willbehereinafterv brought out, this dwell occurs in timed relation with the removal of the core of the tomato atthe completion of the coringoperation.

- As-shown in Figs. 8,, 3.4, 3-5, and 36, slidably mounted within the tubular screw shaft H t .is'

a core knock out rod I19- which'extend-s; upwardly in the shaft and terminates within'the screw H2. Mounted on the lower end portion of the rod 119 is a block-I11 (Fig. 8) having a pair,

of diametrically disposed studs-I12: which are nga'gedby the outer forked end of a core knock out lever I13. The other end of lever I13 is fixed to a rockshaft I 14 rotatably mounted in bearingsof the brackets 63, 64,heretofore described (Fig 2). Fixed to-the rockshaft I14 (Figs'pl and 20) is one end of an arm I15. The other end of arm I15 has a follower roller I15 engaged with a cam'l11 secured to shaft 44. A torsion spring I18 (Fig. 1) is coiled around a collar I19 fixed to rockshaft I14 adjacent the bracket 42, through which the rockshaft extends forurging the arm I15 in a direction to maintain thefollower roller I16 in constant engagement with the cam I11. The torsion spring I18 also acts to maintain the core knock out lever I13'and rod I10 in their lowermost position (Fig. 8). During a cycle of operation of the machina'cam I11 is adapted to make one revolution in which a tooth I89 of the cam I11 momentarily actuates the arm I15 so that the shaft I14 is rocked toimpart an upward moveinent to the several levers I13. In this manner. the core knockout rods I18 are moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 8 to thereby knock the cores from the tops of the spindles. The upward movement imparted to each core knock out rod I19 is subsequent to each peeling operation and is in timed relation with the delivery of a tomato to each spindle so that the fins 89 and screw I I2 will be cleared of all refuse immediately before a tomato is delivered to the spindle. It will be understood that the tooth I83 of the cam I 11 operates the'lever I13 only momentarily so that the core knock-out rod I18 of each spindle is reciprocated in a quick upward and downward movement within the screw shaft III.

Centering mechanism The centering mechanism C for each spindle 88 comprises a pair of arms I8I, I82 (Figs. 1, 6,

7, and 29 to 33) each of said arms having its upper portion forked to provide a pair of upstanding shanks I83. Each shank is formed with a laterally ofi'set portion I84 (Figs. 7 and 29), from whichprojects an upwardly extending stem l85 on which is rotatably mounted a tomato engaging roller I85 in the manner shown in Fig- 7. r

The arm ISI is disposed at one side of the pedestal SI and the arm I82 is disposed at the opposite side of the same pedestal, as viewed from the front of the machine (Fig. 1,), and the arrangement of the forked portions I83 and the rollers I86 is such that a roller of each arm is disposed a'predetermined distance forwardly of a line extending lengthwise of the machine and passing through the vertical axes of the pedestals and the other roller of each arm is disposed a corresponding distance rearwardly of the same line (Fig. 8). Thus, the rollers I86 are, as shown iii-Figs. 5 and'6, located at each corner of an imaginary rectangle so as to engage the eX- terior surface of a tomato at widely spaced points and to center the tomato with respect to the vertical axis of the spindle 80 in the manner to be hereinafter described. 1

The arms I8I, I82 (Figs. 5, 6, and '1) extend upwardly in a generally vertical direction from parallel bosses I81, I88, mounted on rockshafts I69, I98, respectively. The rockshaft I89 (Fig. 8) is rotatably mounted in bearings I9I, I92, carried by brackets I93 and I94, respectively, and the rockshaft I90 (Fig. 6) is rotatably mounted in bearings I95, I96, also carried by said brackets.

The bracket I93 is in the form of an elongated casting that is mounted on the top of the table 24 substantially in parallel relationship with the front longitudinal edge thereof, and the bracket I94 is similar in construction and is, likewise, mounted on the top of the table 24 substantially in parallel relationship with the rear longitudinal edge thereof (see Figs. 2, 4, 6, '7, and 8).

The arms I8I, I82 are adapted to be periodically oscillated by the rockshafts I89, I90 toward and away from each other. Short arms I91, I98 (Figs. 1 and extending substantially horizontally toward each other from the bosses I81 and I88, respectively, are joined together end to end by a pin and slot connection indicated at I99, to couple the same in such a manner that when one rockshaft is rotated in one direction the other rockshaft will be simultaneously rotated in the opposite direction. A collar 200 is secured to the rockshaft I90 adjacent the hearing I96 and a torsion spring I surrounding the shaft I90 has one end secured to the collar 200 and its opposite end anchored to the bracket I94 for normally urging the arms I8I, I82 toward each other to dispose the centering rollers in fruit centering position, as shown in Fig. 6.

Fixed to the rear end of each rockshaft I89 of the machine and depending therefrom is an arm 202 (Figs. 3, '7, and 8), having its lower extremity fitted with a stud 203 which is disposed within a loop 204 extending upwardly from a collar 205 mounted on a rod 206. The rod 206 is slidably mounted for reciprocation lengthwise of the machine in bearings 20! carried by a plurality of brackets 208 depending from the table 24 (Fig. 3).

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 19, one end of the rod 206 extends beyond the end of the table 24 and is pivotally connected by a pin 289 to one end of a lever 2 I0 having a fulcrum provided by a stud 2 carried by a bracket 2I2 mounted on the standard I6. The other end of lever 2I0 is provided with a follower roller 2I3 which is maintained in engagement with the track of a cam 2 I4 mounted on the shaft 44, by a spring 2I5 coiled around a collar 2I6 fixed on the stud 2II in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

The arms I8I, I82 are urged away from each other, against the action of torsion spring 20I,

due to shifting of the loops 204 and rod 206 into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 under the influence of the spring 2I5 on the lever 2I0 so that the arms assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, in which the pairs of centering rollers I86 of each arm are spaced apart a suitable distance to provide a wide gap between them through which a tomato can be delivered to the fruit holder B by feed mechanism A. As a tomato is positioned by the feed plate 55 on top of the pedestal BI, the roller 2I3 on lever 2I0 climbs the acclivity of the cam 2I4 whereby the arms I8I, I82 are released for movement toward each other by their respective torsion springs 20I to thereby reduce the space between the pairs of rollers I86 for the purpose of centering the tomato with respect to the screw I I2. Since the centering arms I8I, I82 are spring actuated, it is apparent that their movement toward each other is limited by the tomato engaged by their respective rollers I86. Consequently, irrespective of the size of the tomatoes presented thereto, the four point engagement of each tomato results in a centering of the tomato relative to the vertical axis of the spindle 80. After the tomato has been centered and secured relative to the fruitholder B by the screw II 2, the arms I8I," I 82 are returned to their spread apart position shown in Fig. 5 so that the exterior surface of the tomato is exposed for peeling.

Peeling dem'ce Associated with each pedestal I, II, III, and IV (Figs. 1, 2, 5, '7, and 22 to 33, inclusive) is a peeling device D including a peeler head unit, generally indicated at 220, and means for operating.

the spindle 80 so as to present the entire skin area of the tomato to the peeling device for removal of the skin thereby in a manner as will hereinafter become apparent.

As shown in Fig. 3, the tie-rod 25 has mounted thereon in suitably spaced apart relation a pair of bearing brackets HI and 222, each of which are formed with vertical bores 223 (Fig. 5) for receiving the vertical rods 224 and 225 of a frame 226 of a peeling device actuating mechanism. The frame 226 (Figs. 1 and 3) also includes an upper horizontal bar 221 fixed to the rods 224 and 225 by set screws 228 and 229, respectively, and a. lower horizontal bar 230 fixed to the rods 224 and 225 by set screws 23I and 232, respectively.

One end of the upper horizontal bar 221 (Fig. 3) extends beyond the rod 224 and has a bearing 233 formed at its extremity which is engaged with the fixed standard 20. The other end of the bar 221 extends beyond the rod 225 and its extremity is formed with a bearing 234 which is engaged with the fixed standard 2|. In a similar manner the lower horizontal bar 230 has a bearing 285 formed on one end thereof for engagement with the standard 20, and a bearing 236 formed on the other end thereof for engagement with the standard 2 I. The construction is such that the frame 226 is movable as a unit rectilinearly on the standards 20, 2| with respect to the stationary frame structure of the machine.

Depending from the upper horizontal bar 221 are a plurality of arms 238, there being one such arm for each peeler head unit 220, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The lower end of each arm 238 is formed with a boss 239 in which one end portion of a shaft 240 is fixed. The shaft 240 of each arm extends forwardly from the frame 226 in the general direction of the respective pedestal 8I. Mounted on the shaft 240 (Fig. 7) and free to rotate thereon, are spaced bearings 24I and 242 of a bracket 243. Intermediate its length the bracket 243 has an upstanding portion 244 to which is pivotally connected by a pin 245 a yoke 246 adapted to support the peeler head unit 220. The pin 245 is arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 240 and with the freely rotatable bracket 243 provides a universal joint connection between the peeler head assembly and the frame 226.

Each peeler head unit 220 (Figs. 2, 5, 7, and 22 to 33) is secured to the outer end of a tubular arm 241 (Figs. 5 and 30) having its inner end portion mounted in the yoke 246. The part of the peeler head unit which is fixed to the outer end of the arm 241 (Figs. 22 to 25) comprises a hollow cylindrical casing 248 from which projects a laterally extending boss 249 having a bore 250 

